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Showbiz Tonight
How Elizabeth Edwards is Handling the News of John Edwards` Affair; Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes` Movie; George Clooney Dragged Into the Mud of the Presidential Race; Britney Breaks Her Silence; Kiefer Sutherland on the Influence of "24" in the Presidential Election
Aired August 13, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, dramatic new details about John Edwards` sex scandal. Tonight, for the very first time, how his cancer- stricken wife is handling the devastating news that Edwards had an affair. Will she forgive her cheating husband?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDRA SOBIERAJ WESTFALL, "PEOPLE": She`s just devastated. This was her college sweetheart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the inside story about how the Edwards family is reacting to the scandal.
George Clooney dragged into the mud of the presidential race. Tonight, why Clooney is so angry about getting caught up in the McCain- Obama showdown he`s offering $1 million to clear his name.
Plus, Britney breaks her silence. Tonight, Britney`s first interview in two years. Does she talk about her breakdown or her teenage kid sister having a baby? Tonight, Britney Spears, unplugged.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, the absolutely remarkable news that Paris Hilton is being sued over a lack of publicity. Paris, a lack of publicity? Has the world gone crazy? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: But first, the John Edwards sex scandal, the untold story. Tonight, for the very first time, those close to Edwards` cheated-on wife are revealing what she`s going through as she deals with both the fallout from her husband`s affair and the knowledge that she has incurable cancer. Tonight, the private pain of Elizabeth Edwards is making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN EDWARDS (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In 2006, two years ago, I made a very serious mistake.
HAMMER (voice over): If former presidential candidate John Edwards thought that his televised confession on ABC`s "Nightline" would quiet the furor over his affair, he`s sure to be disappointed. For every Olympic athlete making news in Beijing, there`s an equal number of people flooding the airwaves to dish on every dirty detail of Edwards` explosive affair with Rielle Hunter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE NEWS ANCHOR: Is John Edwards telling the whole story about his extramarital affair?
HAMMER: But now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you those closest to the Edwards family are now coming forward with the story that, up until now, has not been told. How this devastating scandal is affecting Edwards` wife of 30 years, Elizabeth, and the rest of his family.
BOB WOODRUFF, ABC CORRESPONDENT: How did she find out about this affair?
EDWARDS: I told her.
HAMMER: In his "Nightline" interview, Edwards said his affair with Hunter began and ended in 2006 and he admitted his betrayal to his wife and family soon after.
EDWARDS: She was mad. She was angry. I think furious would be a good way to describe it.
SANDRA SOBIERAJ WESTFALL, "PEOPLE": I`m told that he only told her in installments or as one source put it, he told the truth slowly.
HAMMER: Sandra Sobieraj Westfall interviewed Elizabeth Edwards` friends and relatives for this week`s cover story in "People" magazine. She tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT John Edwards first told his wife of the affair shortly after he announced his campaign for president.
WESTFALL: Elizabeth`s best friend down in North Carolina, Hargrave McElroy, told me that she was just devastated. And this was her college sweetheart. So while Elizabeth put a smile on her face and got up on stage and campaigned for her husband, Hargrave says she was in extreme anguish.
HAMMER: To make matters worse, the cancer which first struck Elizabeth in 2004 returned in 2007 after being in remission. Doctors told her it was incurable.
WESTFALL: Elizabeth`s younger brother, Jay Anania, with whom she`s very close, told me that the cancer really brought into focus for her that her job as a mother is to make sure that when she`s gone, her children have a father that they can be proud of and that to keep the family intact was the priority for her children.
HAMMER: The pain all flared up again when the "National Enquirer" got wind of the affair in 2007. Edwards frequently denied those reports.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: When you were running for president, you flat-out denied having a relationship with Rielle Hunter. Were you telling the truth then?
EDWARDS: Yes.
HAMMER: But "People" reports Elizabeth knew the real truth?
WESTFALL: Even from the beginning, Elizabeth had admittedly a naive belief that this could stay private. She pulled back, did less events in October, November, December and really started thinking that, you know, "We need to get this out. I can`t carry the burden of this lie anymore." And they came to the decision together to go on "Nightline".
HAMMER: And now that Edwards has come clean, those close to his ex- mistress are also coming forward.
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ, CO-HOST, "THE EARLY SHOW": Do you think that John Edwards is the father of her daughter?
PIGEON O`BRIEN, RIELLE HUNTER`S FRIEND: I do.
HAMMER: Hunter`s friend Pigeon O`Brien tells the CBS "Early Show" that despite Edwards` denials, she believes Hunter`s new baby is his.
O`BRIEN: I don`t see any other explanation. She would not have a child with someone that she didn`t love and she loves him.
HAMMER: And as for the Edwards family, they`re now left with two agonizing tasks, one dealing with her life-threatening illness.
WESTFALL: Right now, her health is stable. Nothing`s grown, nothing`s shrunk, which, you know, for a woman in her position is good news.
HAMMER: And the other, repairing their family amid a harsh public spotlight in the precious time that Elizabeth has left.
WESTFALL: She knows that she`s going to be gone too soon. And she wanted her children to have, you know, a man who has some dignity. And right now, in the heat of it all, she`s been disappointed. So much of what she thinks still is good about him has been lost in the scandal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It is just so heartbreaking to hear what Elizabeth Edwards is going through. We`re really getting the emotional side of this story now. But is there anything John Edwards can do to make this up to his cheated-on wife and, of course, to the millions of people who supported him and now feel completely betrayed?
Joining me tonight in New York, Marvet Britto, celebrity publicist. Also Howard Bragman, founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations.
Guys, I want to take another look at what Elizabeth Edwards` best friend told "People" magazine. Let me read this, quote, "There was anguish - excruciating anguish - for her in dealing with this. She was angry and furious and everything, but at one point, she had to make a choice: `Do I kick him out or do we have a 30-year marriage that can be rebuilt.`"
All right. Marvet, it`s a sensitive question. It`s a tough question, but as the "People" article also talks about, if Elizabeth Edwards was not dealing with her terminal cancer, it is hard to imagine that this marriage wouldn`t be over.
MARVET BRITTO, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST AND FOUNDER OF THE BRITTO AGENCY: It is hard to imagine. But, A.J., you know, infidelities are becoming more and more commonplace, sad as it may be. And when you watch how Bill Clinton weathered it and Eliot Spitzer weathered it, you know, it`s seemingly more common. And as sad as that may be, I think that this is truly between this man, his wife and their God.
HAMMER: In fact, Elizabeth`s friend, Hargrave McElroy tells "People" magazine how hard it`s been on Elizabeth, knowing that one day soon, their kids are going to be without their mother. Let me read this quote, "That was an extraordinary burden for her. That`s why it`s so painful for her to see the father of her children become a pariah."
Howard, sadly it seems that Elizabeth has really no choice but to ride this through, or does she?
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: No, you`re absolutely right, A.J. Her only choice is to stand by her man at this point because tragically, she probably won`t be here in a few years. And when she`s gone, does she want the kids with a legacy of a broken marriage and a father that she separated from? Or does she want the legacy of a woman who tried to keep it together, stood by the man she loves and knows she`s passing on the kids to this man. She`s in a horrible situation. Really, anybody who watches this situation, your heart has to go out to her in particular because she doesn`t have these choices.
HAMMER: Yes. No question about that. And there`s just so much outrage coming from so many different places, lots of feelings of betrayal and a lot of outrage over the fact that you know, Edwards didn`t just have an affair, but he was cheating on his cancer-stricken wife who had always been there for him.
Marvet, with these brand-new details about the pain Elizabeth`s going through, I can`t imagine anything Edwards could do right now to rebuild his reputation. Do I have that right?
BRITTO: Well, not necessarily, A.J., because look at Bill Clinton. He was just on the campaign trail with, you know, Americans rooting and supporting him. So I think you have to look at the fact that he stood with his wife. He told the truth. They did, you know, what any man in his position should do. He went to her first. She didn`t have to discover it by way of the mistress. So I think they`ll stand united and I think they`ll weather this storm.
HAMMER: Yes. And I think the thing that happened with Bill Clinton, though, is in a different league. Honestly, I think what has happened here is such - I mean, the Bill Clinton story, obviously the fodder for tabloids as well. But this with Elizabeth and her cancer and the fact that he was in a presidential campaign, I can`t get past it and I don`t think a lot of people can.
Howard, you`ve pulled some very high-profile people out of some really huge messes. Do you think this one is just too huge?
BRAGMAN: It`s awful huge and it`s going to take a lot of time. It`s going to take many years. What he has to do is the same thing I tell a celebrity, go back to what got you that respect in the first place. Do your work on poverty. Do your work with causes that are important. Be a wonderful father, be a wonderful husband, be at your wife`s side. And maybe then, in a few years, we`ll forgive him and things will soften a little.
HAMMER: Yes. That, and stay away from the woman that he had the affair with. I mean, am I wrong about that, Marvet? You know, going anywhere near Rielle Hunter right now or anytime in the future would just be a huge mistake.
BRITTO: That`s absolutely taboo because then he`ll appear like a cold, heartless man. He really needs to focus on supporting his wife who is ill and be a rock for his family. Like Howard said, you know, we want to see the character and integrity, you know, in the forefront of all of his actions, moving forward. His actions will speak louder than his words at this point.
HAMMER: Yes. A lot of disappointment and a lot of heart-felt emotions going out to Elizabeth Edwards at this time. Marvet Britto, Howard Bragman, I do appreciate you being here tonight to talk with us about this.
The new issue of "People" magazine with the Elizabeth Edwards story on the cover, will be on newsstands on Friday.
Let me turn it over to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here` what we want to know: "John Edwards` Confession: Do you think he told the whole truth?" Let us know what you think at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
ANDERSON: A.J. Tonight, I can tell you that Britney Spears is confessing some pretty heavy-duty explosive stuff of her own.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. She`s finally breaking her silence here.
ANDERSON: Yes. It`s been her first interview in two years, A.J. So does she talk about her breakdown or her teenage kid sister having a baby? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: Brooke, I know that Britney kind of got thrown into the whole presidential race with that John McCain ad that also featured Paris Hilton. Well, tonight, George Clooney is getting dragged into it. Let me tell you, George is so mad, he`s offering $1 million to clear his name.
ANDERSON: And A.J., everybody is so stunned by the deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. And get this, they actually just finished filming a movie together. Next, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, the director of that film is right here. Just how did he deal with the shock of two of his stars dying?
HAMMER: I realize you`re watching us right now. But do keep in mind that you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime. And because of that, we`re always posting new stuff for you to check out right there on our Web site. Surf on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And among the videos now playing that you do not want to miss, Lisa Marie`s Confessions. Lisa Marie Presley speaking out about her strange marriage to Michael Jackson and her outrage over being called fat.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISAAC HAYES, MUSICIAN AND ACTOR: Hey, fellows, what`s happening?
BERNIE MAC, COMEDIAN: The man.
HAYES: The man. OK, all right. I just wanted to wish you luck.
SAMUEL JACKSON, ACTOR: Yes. We`re going to need it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The shocking loss of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes what actually just starred in a movie together. Tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, the director of that movie is right here.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, the sudden deaths of comedian Bernie Mac and the legendary Isaac Hayes within hours of each other over the weekend came as a shock to us all. And the really strange irony is that both recently shot a film together called "Soul Men."
In New York tonight in a showbiz exclusive, Malcolm Lee, who directed "soul men." Malcolm, thank you for taking the time with us. Thanks for being here. We appreciate it.
MALCOLM LEE, DIRECTOR, "SOUL MEN": Thank you for having me.
ANDERSON: Now, I would have to imagine, Malcolm, that it must have seemed like you were living a nightmare. First of all, when Bernie Mac died and you were told about it, what went through your head?
LEE: Honestly, certainly, it was hard to hear about Bernie. You know, he was such a great guy. And it wasn`t - you never want to hear those words. You never expect to hear them from somebody that you`ve had a relationship with or you`ve just worked with.
ANDERSON: Yes. And then you find out that Isaac Hayes died, you know, the very next day. We have learned that it was a stroke that killed him. When you heard the news about Isaac, Malcolm, you must have been thinking, this can`t be real?
LEE: Yes. Absolutely. It was a very surreal experience. You know, I`d just gotten back in the house with my family and we were cooking lunch and then I got the news about that. And I said, this can`t be real. This is impossible. But it was very sad to hear about Isaac as well.
ANDERSON: Yes. Just devastating, both of them, my goodness, in the same weekend, too. It`s just so tough.
And we know that Bernie Mac had been sick for a long time suffering from a lung disease. But he never let that get in the way of his work. Take a look at what Ashton Kutcher, who worked with Bernie on the film, "Guess Who" told Larry King about how Bernie would come to the set and work even when he was ill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: He came back to work and he was on oxygen and actually came to work. And between takes, he was on oxygen. And he would take the oxygen off and do a take and then put the oxygen back on because he couldn`t get enough oxygen into his lungs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Malcolm, you worked with Bernie day in, day out on "Soul Men." Did you have any sense that he was so sick?
LEE: Well, certainly his sarcoidosis - we knew about that, you know. I didn`t know the full extent of it. I didn`t even know what - I never heard of the disease prior to Bernie telling me about it. And he would always downplay it. No matter what, even if Bernie was really, really sick, it would not stop him from working. He would have - you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) take the oxygen.
But he was always ready to go when we asked for him and he never asked for special treatment and he wanted to be treated just like anybody else. In fact, I think he pushed himself a little bit too hard. I was like, "You know, Bernie, we have a stunt man for what you want to do right now. You don`t have to do that."
But that`s how he lived his life. He really wanted to do it to the fullest extent and didn`t want anybody to think that he needed anything, any special treatment or to be treated any differently.
ANDERSON: Oh, what an incredible work ethic he had. And is there any one memory that you have of working with these two giants that you will never forget?
LEE: When it comes to Bernie, you know, what he did on the set was try to please the fans. I remember we were shooting the finale of the movie and he came out on stage and you know, it wasn`t even an introduction and the fans jumped up. We had a big scene with a bunch of extras and they jumped up and cheered their heads off for him. And between takes - it`s a long day sometimes to do these scenes and he would do his impromptu stand-up and it was hilarious. And he said, "This is why I do it. These people made me. They love me and I love them and I owe it to them to do this for them because they made me who I am."
ANDERSON: Not conceited or superficial. Yes, and go ahead about Isaac.
LEE: Isaac, you know, what I think about him is he just was ready to do whatever was asked of him. We had a cast and actor for another part in the finale and Isaac was already there and our actor couldn`t make it. So I said, "Could you step in and play this role as well?" He`s playing the same character, but he was able to take on another role. And, you know, it was seamless and it actually better for the film.
ANDERSON: Oh. They certainly will be missed, two entertainment giants, Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. And Malcolm, I know it`s been mixed emotions for you this week. Congratulations on the birth of your new baby boy yesterday. We appreciate your time.
LEE: Thank you very much.
ANDERSON: Malcom Lee, thanks so much. "Soul Men" starring Bernie Mac - the late Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes and Samuel Jackson opens in November.
HAMMER: Brooke, moving on, I`ve got to say, I`ve been really impressed by Britney Spears. She really seems to have gotten her act together, hasn`t she?
ANDERSON: She has, A.J. She`s even working on a new album. Tonight, Britney is opening up. In fact, it`s her first interview in two years. Will she talk about her kids, her teen sister and new mommy, Jamie Lynn? We`ve got it, straight ahead.
HAMMER: All right. First, it was Britney Spears and Paris Hilton getting thrown into that presidential race with that John McCain ad. Well, now, George Clooney is being dragged in. And you know what? He`s so mad he`s actually offering up a million bucks just to clear his name.
Plus, the shocking new McCain "Wayne`s World" controversy. And no one ever accused Paris Hilton of not putting herself out there. But tonight, I can tell you, she`s being sued for lack of publicity. Really?
Now, be sure to check out the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast which you`ll find on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download it by going to iTunes and doing a search for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, which is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Here are some more stories that are new in Hollywood right now.
This is our celebrity lawsuit edition tonight. Paris Hilton being sued for not publicizing herself enough. Yes, you heard me right. She`s being sued by the people who put out the 2006 movie "National Lampoon`s Pledge This." Yes, I never of it either. The "Pledge This" folks say Paris owes them $75,000 for not living up to her end of the bargain to promote the film.
"High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens is being sued for a lot more than her milk money. A music producer wants $5 million from her and her dad. Now, this guy claims that Hudgens owes him a good chunk of her earnings because they had a contract and he helped make her a star.
And Dennis Quaid is going after some cash. He says he is owed. He is suing the guy that he claims he loaned $70,000 back in 2001. But according to Dennis, the guy never paid him back. You`ve got to pay back your debts.
ANDERSON: You do. And A.J., you know, George Clooney isn`t suing anybody yet. But he`s so mad that he`s been dragged into the showdown between Barack Obama and John McCain, he`s offering up a million bucks to clear his name.
And then there`s McCain "Wayne`s World" controversy. Yes, I said "Wayne`s World." That`s coming up.
HAMMER: All right, Brooke. Britney Spears got all caught up in this presidential election, too. You know, McCain put your in that ad along with Paris Hilton. Well, tonight, Britney Spears doing her very first interview in two years. But will she talk about her breakdown? Will she talk about her kids and her teen sister, new mommy, Jamie Lynn? That`s coming up next.
And John McCain and Barack Obama are taking some time to smell the flowers. Actually, water them, on someone`s lawn. But you know, not everyone`s happy about these mannequins. And I actually hear that the garden union - they don`t like them moving in on their turf. You have got to see this, coming up.
But first, keep in mind, you can always stay on top of the most provocative entertainment news by subscribing to our daily SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsletter. You want it? Just head on over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight and click on the "sign up for newsletter" link right there at the bottom of the page. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, stars dragged into the presidential election. George Clooney is fighting back against reports about his role in the Obama campaign and is offering $1 million to anyone who can prove him wrong. And Mike Myers isn`t crazy about the use of "Wayne`s World" in the campaign. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the stars fighting back in the election drama.
Britney Spears speaks out. It`s her very first interview in two years. Will it get her back in the spotlight in a good way? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Britney in her own words.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood with TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, first, of course, it was Paris Hilton, then Britney Spears. And now it`s George Clooney and Mike Myers being dragged into the mud of this presidential campaign. They are two big stories making news right now.
Tonight, George Clooney is furious over this report that he`s a secret adviser to Barack Obama, giving the presidential candidate tips on everything from Iraq policy to body language.
Also new right now, John McCain - he`s at it again. First the Republican presidential candidate used Paris Hilton in a campaign ad. And now, he`s done the same thing with Mike Myers` alter ego from "Wayne`s World." Now, here`s a look at part of the original version of the ad I`m talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OVER: We know he doesn`t have much experience and isn`t ready to lead, but that doesn`t mean he isn`t dreamy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The aura around him is just really nice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I love most about him is that he has very soft eyes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My chicks dig Obama.
CROWD: We`re not worthy!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Excellent. All right. We`ve got a fired-up panel ready to go.
Joining me tonight in New York, senior editor of "In Touch Weekly," Carolina Bermudez. Also in New York tonight, founder of the Britto agency, Marvet Britto. In Hollywood tonight, Howard Bragman, the founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations.
Gang, I appreciate you being here. And I want to start off with George Clooney, our good buddy, George. This is a crazy story. It comes out of the "London Daily Mail." And it says that George is a secret adviser to Obama. It says that they call and text each other almost every day, like BFFs with George sharing his wealth of knowledge about Israel and Iraq and, of course, public speaking. Carolina, Clooney calls this story a bunch of bull so I`m inclined to believe him. Why would anybody want to make up a story like this? I`m having a hard time understanding.
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Well, you know, it`s those crazy Brits - they`re at it again. They`re always making up these scandalous stories. And I think that George Clooney is smart to separate himself. Because even if he does support Obama, then by him saying that he`s not doing these things, it kind of takes away that whole Hollywood limelight that people have been putting around him. So I agree with him. I think he`s smart for saying, "Hey, look. I have my own political views, but that doesn`t mean that I am texting and talking to somebody and advising them." So don`t say it unless it`s true.
HAMMER: Yes. I think he made a really good PR move in the way he`s gotten out in front of this story. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did reach out to our good buddy George. He issued a million-dollar challenge. I want you to listen to what he told us. He said, quote, "I have never texted or E-mailed Sen. Obama. And I`ll offer $1 million to anyone who could prove otherwise. In fact, I`ve only talked to the senator once in the last year and a half on the phone. I`ve spent more time with Sen. McCain (he did my TV show) then I have with Sen. Obama. I would hope that my friend, John McCain, would join me in condemning this kind of politics. Although I support Sen. Obama, I would never be dumb enough to offer policy advice to either candidate. They seem to be doing fine without me."
Howard Bragman, let me bring you in here. I`ve got a little conspiracy theory about this. Tell me if you`re onboard with this. Is this possibly another way for someone to make Obama out to be a celebrity without substance as McCain did try to do with that Paris ad?
BRAGMAN: A.J., if you weren`t correct, I`d say you`re being paranoid. But of course the McCain campaign wants to tie Obama in with Hollywood. But I`ve never understood why the Republican Party - they have Fred Thompson, Ronald Reagan - have such disdain for this town. Really, what George Clooney is saying is, "Yes, I support the guy. I`m not an adviser to the guy." And there`s a lot of people in this town who support him and they`re trying to use his popularity against him. I don`t think it`s working. I think McCain needs to talk about the issues and leave Hollywood guys alone right now.
HAMMER: I agree with that. I think we proved that with what we saw with the Paris Hilton-Britney Spears ad. No, I`m not suggesting McCain`s people put this ad out, but perhaps a McCain supporter. I don`t know.
And then there`s the fact that George Clooney is not just one of the biggest stars in the world. But he is an activist. He`s a really, really bright guy. Marvet, what do you think? Would it be such a bad thing if Clooney was throwing some advice Obama`s way? I don`t know.
BRITTO: It wouldn`t be a bad thing. And particularly the way that it`s cleverly being used, I don`t think they realize the power that celebrities have. They sell products and now they`re selling politicians. And quite frankly, it`s going to work.
With Clooney, he`s being seen as more of an adviser in a more organic way, versus McCain using people more as, you know,- he`s using them in advertising and it`s completely different. So people are going to associate Obama knowing Clooney and therefore leverage Clooney`s audience and everything that McCain is trying to do to the negative is working for Obama to the positive.
HAMMER: Yes. I think you`re in much better shape if you`re using people like George Clooney and Angelina Jolie, perhaps, than, well, Paris and Britney.
Let`s move on to Mike Myers. This is crazy, the whole "Wayne`s World" tie-in here. John McCain got busted big time for using a clip from "Wayne`s World" in his brand-new campaign ad that tries once again to portray Obama as a celebrity. Now, Myers` people called McCain out on it. They forced him to remove the clip. But the message is still very clear. I want you to take a look at this ad from McCain`s campaign Web site.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OVER: You`ve seen him in London, Paris and Berlin. Now, you, too, can join the one`s fan club right here in America.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR: You`d think Elvis or the Beatles had come to town.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is amazing. I almost felt like crying when he signed it.
VOICE OVER: The perks are amazing, like a tax increase for everyone earning more than $42,000 a year. He`s a rock star.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I`d say he`s at the level of Bono for me.
VOICE OVER: Able to move appetites with just a local appearance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can feel it building at the Taco Bell across town just before lunch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We aren`t usually busy whenever it`s raining. And it`s been busy all day.
VOICE OVER: So act now and don`t delay. We know he doesn`t have much experience and isn`t ready to lead, but that doesn`t mean he isn`t dreamy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The aura around him is just really nice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I love most about him is that he has very soft eyes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My chicks dig Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know what? I see that and I`ve just got to say, shame on the McCain campaign. I mean, come on. Having nothing to do with who I may or may not support, that`s insane to me that this is going on. We`ve had Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Mike Myers now -
Carolina, help me out. Who do you think is next to be dragged into this? Lindsay Lohan? I mean, what does he have to gain from this?
BERMUDEZ: These are playground antics. This really just shows you how they`re grasping at straws because people don`t care, OK? That`s their public opinion. I sense a little bit of jealousy on McCain`s part here because Barack Obama is pretty dreamy. So I don`t know why he`s so upset about that and why he needs to focus on it. Instead of trying to call him out and trying to call him a celebrity and make him all Hollywood, McCain should focus on the issues. And really, that`s the best way for him to get some support.
HAMMER: Amen. A big question that`s been floating around the more and more Hollywood gets dragged into this thing is whether or not celebrities actually influence the vote. Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did ask you online an on the air about the very issue. We did get an overwhelming response to our question, and it`s really one-sided: "Stars Endorsing Political Candidates: Do they influence your vote?" Look at this. Only four percent said yes. A whopping 96 percent of those who voted said no.
Howard Bragman, let me start with you, based on that vote, would it be best for both McCain and Obama to, you know, call a celebrity truce and just keep Hollywood out of this?
BRAGMAN: I think there`s ways to use celebrities. You can use them at events. You can use them to raise money. And I`ll tell you right here, right now, Sen. Obama has something up his sleeve in terms of celebrities that you`re going to see in the next couple of weeks that`s is absolutely brilliant. And you`ll see it`s the right way to use celebrities, not making fun of them because his celebrity is really encouraging young people to vote..
HAMMER: I`m really looking forward to seeing what that is, Howard. Because we have yet to see that in this campaign, you know. And it`s really interesting to see that vote, 96 percent of those who voted in our poll saying they don`t care what the celebrities think.
Carolina Bermudez, Marvet Britto, Howard Bragman, I appreciate you all being here tonight.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., it`s been a while since we could say this - Britney Spears is speaking out.
HAMMER: Yes, hard to believe on this, Brooke, but it`s been two years now since Britney gave an interview.
ANDERSON: Now, she is finally breaking her silence, A.J., on everything from her future in music to how she really felt about her little sister getting pregnant at 16, next.
HAMMER: Also for anyone who has ever thought that politics was full of dummies, did you see this? A guy has actually made mannequins of the presidential candidates, but not everybody thinks this is so cute. We`ve got that coming up.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIEFER SUTHERLAND, ACTOR: Someone had once said that, you know, do you believe that "24" helped Barack Obama become a presidential candidate?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Kiefer Sutherland speaks out about having an African-American president on "24" and whether that had any impact on the current election. You do not want to miss what he said, and that is straight ahead.
HAMMER: Now, please keep in mind you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime. That`s why we`re posting new stuff all the time for you to check out right there on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Just surf on over and check it out. Among the videos now playing, Lisa Marie`s confessions. Lisa Marie Presley speaking out about her strange marriage to Michael Jackson and her outrage over being called fat. .
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSSELL BROWN, COMEDIAN: Can you remember my name?
BRITNEY SPEARS, ROCK STAR: Russell.
BROWN: And can you remember my last name?
SPEARS: Brown.
BROWN: It`s not Russell Brown, Britney.
SPEARS: What is your name?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Just one day after Britney Spears makes an appearance in a new ad for the MTV Video Music Awards, the news that Britney`s done her first interview in two years. And wait until you hear what she said.
`Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, Britney speaks, breaking her long public silence in an interview with "OK!" magazine. Britney opens up about her sons, her new album and her baby teenage sister, Jamie Lynn, having a baby herself, something Britney calls mind-boggling.
With me tonight in Hollywood, "E! News" correspondent, Ashlan Gorse. Also in Hollywood, Conor Knighton, host of "Infomania" on Current TV.
Ashlan, Conor, after two years of craziness, so many questions for Britney. And she really opened up about her kid sister, Jamie Lynn, having a baby at age 17. Listen to this, quote, "That was special, but it was also strange because she`s always been the baby, and now the baby was having a baby. It was mind-boggling. I was shocked a little bit. But it was really cool and she was happy."
Ashlan Gorse, do you get the sense from that that maybe after the shock wore off that Jamie Lynn was pregnant and her family seemed to stabilize a little bit, that that`s kind of keeping Britney focused now?
ASHLAN GORSE, "E! NEWS" CORRESPONDENT: You know, I think so. I think it kind of showed her that she does have an influence on people, especially on her younger sister, and it kind of shook the family up, again, like many other things. I think she realized like, "Wow, I am an older sister. I need to be responsible. I have two kids of my own." Let`s be a good role model.
ANDERSON: Yes, and speaking of being a good role model, let us not forget that it was only a year ago that an erratic Britney stormed out of the now- infamous photo shoot with "OK!" magazine after smearing fried chicken grease on one gown, letting her dog do business on another. At that time, I spoke with the deputy editor of "OK!" magazine, Ruth Hilton, and let`s listen to what she said -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUTH HILTON, DEPUTY EDITOR, "OK!" MAGAZINE: I wish I could say what was going on in her mind that day. I think we`re all still a bit baffled. You know, I saw the dress and that was probably one of the most disturbing things for me, that day, was to see it scrunched in a ball just by the bed. And it wasn`t just like greased down the front. It was greased down the back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, here my question, Conor. Why do you think that Britney decided to return to "OK!" magazine for this new interview, the scene of the crime, so to speak. Was it maybe to dramatically make the point that, "Whoa, what a difference a year can make"?
CONOR KNIGHTON, HOST, "INFOMANIA": Oh, yes, I think that`s absolutely why she did it and also, you know, they paid her a lot of money as well. But specifically to go with "OK!" that interview was infamous. You know, when people have been talking about it, you know, almost up until the point of this new one. It`s like when people go back to their high school reunion. You know, you want to prove to those people that you`re cool or normal now. And I think for her, to do that, it`s best to go back to the place where she sort of began to lose the public trust in her normalcy.
ANDERSON: And you mentioned she got paid a lot of money. I want to say that "OK!" magazine never comments on how much, if any, money they pay for interviews or photos. That said, as we know, over the past couple of years, Britney has spent much of her time fighting her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, for custody of their kids. And when asked whether or not she`d want her son, Sean Preston and Jayden James to go into showbiz, Britney tells "OK!", quote, "I`d rather not, but I`d love them unconditionally if they wanted to. I`d just as soon they have a more normal childhood."
Ashlan, what struck me here is hey, Britney really knows what it is like to have an abnormal childhood. It seems she`s going to do everything she can going forward to make sure her kids don`t go down that same path.
GORSE: The only thing I can say is, "Yay! Britney learned a lesson."
ANDERSON: Cheers, finally.
GORSE: Oh, my god, she was paying attention. I mean, she is the epitome of, you know, putting a child, young, into Hollywood, having them grow up in the spotlight, having them go through a marriage and a divorce and kids in the spotlight. She learned something, thank goodness, and I think she`s right. She needs to make sure if these kids want to go into showbiz, maybe she should wait and let them go to college first and then they can do it later.
ANDERSON: Yes. And you know, her own parents have probably learned a lot from the experience as well. Britney`s dad, Jamie Spears, also there for the interview and spoke to "OK!" magazine himself. And he rarely does interviews. But he actually seemed to open up more than Britney did. Listen to what he had to say about the progress his daughter is making, quote, "Right now, everything is OK. I just don`t know about what six months from now will bring, or three months. But as it is right now, the conservator is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. This is the way I live, one day at a time."
ANDERSON: OK. That sounds promising but also sounds a little ominous to me. Conor, not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it?
KNIGHTON: No, not at all. I mean, it`s certainly honest, which is surprising. But this is someone who`s had a lot of ups and downs. And what`s going to be interesting is, you know, she`s able to maintain this. Right now, this interview is getting a lot of attention. Everyone wants to read this issue of "OK!" magazine. If she stays normal, people don`t want to read stories about well-adjusted, single mothers, you know, who are doing a good job. And it will be interesting to see how the media deals with that because the Britney that everyone loves to write about is crazy Britney.
ANDERSON: Well, I love the positive stories. Actually, her dad not saying flat-out that she`s OK forever. Does that concern you? Quickly.
GORSE: You know, I think now - I think now, as a parent, they`ve probably learned that every time you think your child gets back up, they can fall again. So don`t set your child up for failure and I think Jamie was doing there.
ANDERSON: Yes. I think we can be cautiously optimistic here.
GORSE: Exactly.
ANDERSON: Ashlan Gorse, Conor Knighton, we will leave it there. Thank you both.
And look for this issue of "OK!" magazine on newsstands Thursday.
HAMMER: All right. Did you see this? An eight-year-old boy from Wisconsin is being called the youngest performing blues guitarist in the world.
(VIDEO CLIP OF TALLAN LATZ PLAYING BLUES GUITAR)
HAMMER: Wow! That is second-grader Tallan Latz, also known as T-Man. At just eight years old, he`s riffing with the best of them. T-Man practices two or three hours a day. He`s already playing gigs and racking up endorsement deals. No huge surprise there. He started playing when he was 5 years old and the rest is history.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TALLAN LATZ, GUITAR PRODIGY: I just love to play the guitar. It`s my favorite. It`s my favorite feeling to play the guitar.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is freaky how cool that is. Tallan is determined to be one of the greats like his idols Jimmy Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. And I think he is well on the way.
All right. Did you see this? If you want to see the Obamas and the McCains, all you`ve got to do is stop by Summerfield, North Carolina on any Sunday. Believe it or not, they are actually out there watering this guy`s front yard.
Yes. Look at that. A guy named Paul Scott made these mannequins/human sprinklers. He said the first weekend he put them out, people came by there and they were scratching their heads and laughing. And ever since then, he put them out every single Sunday. Some of the neighbors - well, they are not too amused. They think the mannequins, or specifically the kind of sprinkling they are doing - they think it`s kind of obscene.
ANDERSON: All right. "24" star Kiefer Sutherland said one of the things he has always been proud of is the fact that his show has an African- American president. But does he think that influences the real life presidential race?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIEFER: Someone had once said, you know, "Do you believe that `24` helped Barack Obama become a presidential candidate?"
ANDERSON: Hear what Kiefer has to say about that, next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Please be sure to check out the free ever changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast. You`ll find it on our Web site. Go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or download it on iTunes by typing "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" into the search box. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming straight back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, "24" star Kiefer Sutherland is speaking out about the presidential election and his TV show`s influence on it. Sen. John McCain recently said that his favorite on screen president is Dennis Hayesburg from "24." And Kiefer Sutherland told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that he has always been really proud of the fact that the series made such a courageous move to show an African-American president.
He said that TV is a very powerful medium and if you show people that things are possible, there can be progress. But Kiefer also told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that he doesn`t think his show should take any credit for the fact that there is an African-American candidate running for president right now. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUTHERLAND: I remember someone had once said, you know, "Do you believe that `24` helped Barack Obama become a presidential candidate?" I went, "Absolutely not." Barack Obama helped Barack Obama become a presidential candidate and so did the American people. But I do believe that you could certainly change people`s perspective of something possibly ever happening. And again, there`s so many shows that have done it. I mean, if you take a look at "NYPD Blue" and "Hill Street Blues," "All In The Family," so many fantastic shows over the years that have broken down specific stereotypes that we all had a tendency to create. Those shows to me I have a great deal of respect for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "24" returns for its seventh season in January and you can see Kiefer Sutherland starring in a new big screen thriller, "Mirrors." It will be in theaters on Friday.
On Tuesday, we asked you to vote on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It was this: "Stars Endorsing Presidential Candidates: Do they influence your vote?" This one, totally lopsided. Look at that. Only four percent said yes; a whopping 96 percent of you said no.
Here`s some of the E-mails we got on the subject. One from Dave in Alabama. Dave writing, "It is a sad day when we as a country think we can elect our president on the endorsements of some Hollywood celebrity."
We also got one from Amy in Wyoming - thank you for writing, Amy. She said, "Are we such a brainwashed society that Hollywood figures would dictate our thought process on who is going to rule this country?" Well written, Amy.
And again, we thank you for sending your E-mails and voting on the question of the day.
And that`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We also thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
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